Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Marshmallows? I'm totally in this week! Especially with all of the fun "Playing Around" ideas that I was allowed! I'd gotten some unflavored gelatin months ago with the intent of making marshmallows, since they have to be better homemade than storebought. But there it sat, that lonely box of gelatin. Because really, what else would you want to use it for? Luckily, Judy of Judy's Gross Eats took pity on me and my lonely box of gelatin. Thank you Judy!

Let me just say, however, that marshmallows are slightly nerve wracking. Especially this recipe, which had me simultaneously cooking a sugar syrup, liquefying gelatin, and whipping egg whites. I had everything all mise-en-placed and was so proud of myself to think ahead and get everything arranged before beginning. My sugar syrup hit 250, my egg whites were reaching soft peaks, and the gelatin was beginning to dissolve over a double boiler. And then it hit me - I had forgotten to put out everything to flavor the marshmallows! Zut! Zut alors! Suddenly my pristine and calm kitchen became a whirling room of madness. Whip out the cocoa, yank out the instant coffee, throw water on to boil, shit - did I need to adjust any other ingredients? Phew, no I'm okay, but yikes! There goes the sugar syrup to 260! And the egg whites, were they losing their gloss? Aahhh!

Needless to say, my kitchen was a disaster zone by the time I got everything poured into the mixer. And that's where my confidence really hit bottom, because the minute everything was poured into the bowl with the egg whites, it became - liquid. Seriously, completely deflated, really really runny, liquid. Spread this mess? Ha! I poured! It easily flowed into every corner of my (not nearly enough) cornstarched cookie sheet. I looked at my kitchen. I looked at my "marshmallows." And I gave up. I left everything where it was, sat down, and ate a cookie. Seriously. If it didn't turn out, I didn't care. I'd try them again, try a different flavor, whatever. This batch was hopeless.

Luckily, I had at least some patience. I decided to wait and see if they would set up by morning. Surprise! They did! And later on, I was given feedback that the deflation was most likely due to the fat in the cocoa, not something I did. Phew!

So what to do with a pound of cappuccino marshmallow? Well, looky here at what I just felt like making this weekend...

31 comments:

I love the series of photos- They look really great. I am with you on the mess in the kitchen and 5 millions things going at once! I thought I might lose my mind, hence the one batch was enough for me!

yeah for homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers! great job....this recipe was a little difficult compared to the one I usually use...so if you want to make them again there are much easier ways that work really well. great job!

Your marshmallows look really scrummy! Great job! I opted to make some S'mores with mine as well, except I used homemade peanut butter cookies. They kind of ended up like moreish Peanut Butter cup s'mores.

I love the description of you running around in your kitchen. =) I'm glad that your marshmallows set up in the end. Mine didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, either. And your s'more looks great. I've never made graham crackers.

I did some spastic rushing around with this recipe too. And I was also surprised by how liquidy the mixture got when I added the syrup and gelatin (for the vanilla version). And I definitely poured and didn't spread the mixture in the pan, but then I controlled the flow and they ended up setting up all right. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors, but I wanted to keep it simple for the first time I made marshmallows.

LMAO. you seriously described my marshmallow making experience to the T! I was totally pleased with myself but apparently I can't boil, whip and microwave at the same time. Your "smore" looks quite tasty though so its worth it right? ;)Clara @ I♥food4thought